Perfusive chromatography

A chromatography method comprising the steps of:

• (A) providing a chromatography matrix defining:
• interconnected first and second pore sets, the members of said first pore set having a greater mean diameter than the members of said second pore set, and
• surface regions in fluid communication with the members of said second pore set which reversibly interact with a solute, and
• (B) passing a fluid mixture of solutes through said matrix at a rate sufficient
• to induce convective fluid flow through both said pore sets and
• to induce a convective flow rate within said second pore set greater than the rate of diffusion of said solute within said second pore set.

A chromatography method comprising the steps of

• A. providing a chromatography matrix defining:
• interconnected first and second pore sets, each of which comprise a multiplicity of pores for channelling through said matrix a mixture of solutes disposed in a fluid, and
• surface regions in fluid communication with the members of the second pore set which sorb a solute in said mixture
• B. passing a fluid mixture of solutes through said matrix at a fluid flow rate to produce:
• convective fluid flow through both pore sets,
• a convective fluid flow velocity through said first pore set greater than the fluid flow velocity through the second pore set, and
• a convective fluid flow velocity through said second pore set greater than the diffusive flow rate of said solute within the members of said second pore set, to load solutes from said fluid mixture onto said surface regions, and
• C. passing an eluant through said matrix to elute a fraction rich in a selected one of said solutes.

A chromatography matrix comprising a multiplicity of packed particles having a mean diameter greater than 10 μm defining:

• interconnected first and second pore sets, each of which comprise a multiplicity of pores for channelling through said matrix a mixture of solutes disposed in a fluid, and
• surface regions in fluid communication with the members of the second pore set which sorb a solute in said mixture,
• the relative dimensions of the members of said first and second pore sets and said surface regions being fixed to permit, when said fluid is passed through said matrix at a preselected velocity,
• convective fluid flow through both pore sets,
• a convective fluid flow velocity through said first pore set greater than the fluid flow velocity through the second pore set,
• a convective fluid flow velocity through said second pore set greater than the diffusive flow rate of said solute within the members of said second pore set,
• the time for said solute to diffuse to and from a said surface regions from a second pore set to be comparable to or shorter than the time for solute to flow convectively past said region,
• whereby there exists a range of fluid flow velocities through said matrix over which the effective plate height of the matrix is substantially constant.

A one-piece chromatography matrix defining:

• interconnected first and second pore sets, each of which comprise a multiplicity of pores for channelling through said matrix a mixture of solutes disposed in a fluid, and
• surface regions in fluid communication with the members of the second pore set which sorb a solute in said mixture
• the relative dimensions of the members of said first and second pore sets and said surface regions being fixed to permit, when said fluid is passed through said matrix at a preselected velocity,
• convective fluid flow through both pore sets,
• a convective fluid flow velocity through said first pore set greater than the fluid flow velocity through the second pore set,
• a convective fluid flow velocity through said second pore set greater than the diffusive flow rate of said solute within the members of said second pore set,
• the time for said solute to diffuse to and from a said surface region from a member of said second pore set to be comparable to or shorter than the time for solute to flow convectively past said region,
• whereby there exists a range of fluid flow velocities through said matrix over which the effective plate height of the matrix is substantially constant.

A chromatography matrix defining:

• interconnected first and second pore sets, each of which comprise a multiplicity of pores for channelling through said matrix a mixture of solutes disposed in a fluid, and
• surface regions in fluid communication with th bers of the second pore set which sorb a so in said mixture, said surface regions co ing solute interactive surfaces other than a po ylenimine or divinylbenzene cross-linked polystyrene surface,
• the relative dimensions of the members of sa irst and second pore sets and said surface re being fixed to permit, when said fluid is pa through said matrix at a preselected velocity,
• convective fluid flow through both pore sets,
• a convective fluid flow velocity through said first pore set greater than the fluid flow velocity through the second pore set,
• a convective fluid flow velocity through said second pore set greater than the diffusive flow rate of said solute within the members of said second pore set,
• the time for said solute to diffuse to and from a said surface region from a member of said second pore set to be comparable to or shorter than the time for solute to flow convectively past said region,
• whereby there exists a range of fluid f elocities through said matrix over which the effective plate height of the matrix is substantially constant.